Environmental Sustainability
The CRD has implemented an environmental model which concentrates on shaping a service delivery package that is fully focused on all aspects of the environment. This service delivery package takes a comprehensive look at our environmental resources, evaluates the stressors, develops guidelines and protocols for regional protection, and aligns functions to best ensure high level, comprehensive approaches. In this fashion we are aligned to take best advantage of initiatives such as recycled commodities, green energy initiatives, environmental health, and regional carbon neutrality.
The basic concept for a regional environmental service delivery perspective is to closely align and integrate responsibilities for high performance environmental monitoring, testing, source control, engineering, social awareness, and the 4R's (reduce, reuse, recycle, recover). As such, Environmental Sustainability has five key areas of focus, which are all closely aligned:
- Environmental Protection
- Water Quality
- Environmental Partnerships
- Environmental Resource Management
- Environmental Engineering
Environmental Protection
Environmental Protection is responsible for the strategies, processes, systems and guidelines that focus on the protection and preservation of the regional environment. Services include environmental protection, environmental stewardship, climate action, monitoring and assessment, and environmental reporting.
Water Quality
Water Quality is responsible for sampling, testing, and data management of services that may impact the regional environment. Water Quality performs quality assurance and quality control services in areas such as potable water, reclaimed water, leachate, stormwater, and source water. Water Quality is also responsible for developing comprehensive regional standards for environmental testing, data management services, and aquatic ecology.
Environmental Partnerships
Environmental Partnerships is responsible for developing and delivering services that transforms behaviour towards the environment. Environmental Partnerships uses a comprehensive and consistent social marketing approach to put in place the tools, resources, and aids that assist citizens, businesses and local government partners in finding solutions to better our environment.
Environmental Resource Management
With a mandate of focusing on the environmental future, Environmental Resource Management is responsible for the planning, developing, and application of systems that will best ensure an integrated and beneficial use and reuse of our resources, some of which may now be seen as waste. For example, rather than looking at waste to be disposed, the CRD is focused on looking at waste as a commodity for beneficial reuse. This includes a focus towards zero waste in our landfill, biosolids recycling, methane gas capture and other energy from waste initiatives, compost and organics processing initiatives, and other emerging opportunities.
Environmental Engineering
Environmental Engineering is responsible for all of the professional engineering services to the department as well as ensuring that engineering within the entire CRD organization meets CRD engineering standards. At its core, Environmental Engineering provides leadership to corporate projects, waste management plans, environmental considerations for emerging opportunities, and landfill projects.
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